Mayor Kevin Cimei and the four councilmen voted on the extension only after three township police officers, who are also local union representatives, spoke against extending the director's contract.

Patrolman Jeff Glennon and sergeants Matthew McGill and Marc Strauss asked why Manney’s contract was being renewed when five years ago, upon his hiring, part of the director’s job was to develop a pool of candidates qualified to become the next chief and succeed Manney.

“Where is that pool?” Glennon asked. “It’s five years later and no one is groomed, no one is ready?

“The union’s position is we don’t need a director anymore,” McGill said. “We (also) don’t need a chief right away.”

The three suggested Manney be paid month-to-month until an “officer-in-charge” from within the ranks of the township force is appointed by the Township Council to head the department.

“What I’m hearing is you want to pick your own leader,” said Cimei, noting that he thinks the police department has done well over the past several years and that there has been “stability” with Manney at the helm.

Strauss said the union doesn’t want to choose the leader, instead: “What we’re saying is that there are people in the department who can lead the department.”

Councilman Peter Marra said that council members told Manney that part of his job is to prepare candidates to possibly head the police department, but that accomplishing that it is a “two-way street and a partnership.”

“If it hasn’t been done in five years, what makes you think it’s going to happen in 22 months?” McGill asked.

Prior to voting on the contract extension, council members praised Manney. Since the director was hired, Cimei said, “the crime rate has fallen and it’s significantly better than in other towns.”

“My experience with Director Manney has been positive,” said Marra.

Marra said he and the council have a responsibility to assist in creating qualified candidates for the chief position.

“I think it needs to be a partnership of all three of us,” Marra said, referring to council, the director and police.

“It’s something we haven’t done a great job of,” he said. “I’m not blaming anyone.”

“I agree with Peter, 100%,” said Councilman Harmen Vos.

“We have to find a way for them to show us they are ready,” he said referring to officers interested in becoming chief.